Study Reveals That Property Contributes R191.4 Billion To SA Economy

The Property Sector Charter Council today released the results of its latest study: The Impact of the South African Property Sector on the National Economy.

CEO of the Property Sector Charter Council, Portia Tau-Sekati

This research continues from its 2012 report, which measured the size of the property market in South Africa at a massive R4,9 trillion. It was and remains the first study of its kind in the country.

The 2013 report estimates the size of the economic activity in the property sector in terms of annual income and expenditure flows generated by the sector. The study showed that the property sector contributes R191.4 billion to the SA economy.

A key finding of the research shows that in 2012, the total economic contribution to GDP of the residential property sector was R103,7 billion in 2012, while it contributed R20,1 billion to the fiscus through various forms of tax.

On the other hand commercial (non-residential) property sector contributed R80,9 billion to GDP and R25,3 billion to the fiscus through various forms of direct and indirect taxes.

The analysis in the latest report uses the life cycle of a property, from origination concept to its end cycle. The total contribution to GDP of the end of cycle stage in 2012 was R6.8 billion with R1.1 billion being contributed to the fiscus. The research also considers the financial revenues attributable to the existence of the property during its life cycle and looks at buildings from an ‘object’ and an ‘investment asset’ perspective.

CEO of the Property Sector Charter Council, Portia Tau-Sekati says: “The property sector makes a significant contribution to the country’s economy and it is important to pursue this research to its conclusion for several reasons. Aside from the fact that no reliable figures have existed on the size and impact of the sector before this, in a sector this big and this important as property there should be ample opportunity for transformation to take place.”

Tau-Sekati explains that detailed research is being carried out in various phases, with each phase providing a valuable understanding of the sector and ultimately creating a consolidated body of knowledge about the property sector that will foster a consistent understanding of the sector for measurement and evaluation.

The first phase measured the size of our property market and the second its financial and economic revenue. The third, currently underway, measures and analyses the transformation using the Broad-Based BEE tool with eight elements contained in the property sector code.

The release of the report was sponsored by Dipula Income Fund. Izak Petersen, CEO of Dipula, says the report holds substantial value for the property sector. “Dipula is proud to sponsor research that enhances the knowledge base of the sector, contributes to its growth and benefits all participants.”

The research was commissioned by the Property Sector Charter Council and compiled by the Investment Property Databank (IPD).